Stephen Elliott Jr. was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, on October 26, 1830. He served as captain of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery in 1861, then as captain of the 11th South Carolina Volunteers in 1861. In 1862 he became chief of artillery for South Carolina’s 3rd Military District. In 1863 he commanded the defense of Fort Sumter. He was promoted brigadier general in 1864 and counterattacked after heavy loss in the Battle of the Crater that year. He died in Aiken, South Carolina, on February 21, 1866.